Observations focused on the problems of an underdeveloped country, Venezuela, with some serendipity about the world (orchids, techs, science, investments, politics) at large. A famous Venezuelan, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonzo, referred to oil as the devil's excrement. For countries, easy wealth appears indeed to be the sure path to failure. Venezuela might be a clear example of that.

Archive for March 10th, 2004

To detain him and send him to the sinister jail of El Rodeo is nothing but pure revenge.

What the regime does not forgive Carlos is his early dissension. How quickly he perceived the Chavista fraud. He was on of the first ones to abandon, disenchanted, the boat in which, with great expectations, he had embarked himself in. He was one of those that allowed himself to be seduced by the supposedly revolutionary rhetoric of Chávez and accompanied him not only in his electoral cruise but also before, in his conspiratorial movements. It did not take him long in realize that he had been ripped off and transformed himself in critic and opposer, but from the left, where he has always been. Carlos, everyone knows it, is a man of action. A hard worker that never tires, dedicated, daring and willing to take risks, a tough one, if you want. What the Chavismo does not forgive him for is that Carlos is one of the living proofs that among the needy disenchantment is growing. He is one of the organizers of that disenchantment, acting in a stage that the Chavismo considers its own closed space, that of the poor barrios of the capital.

That is why there is bad blood with him. This small reporter wants to add himself to the campaign for the freedom of Carlos Melo.

To detain him and send him to the sinister jail of El Rodeo is nothing but pure revenge.

What the regime does not forgive Carlos is his early dissension. How quickly he perceived the Chavista fraud. He was on of the first ones to abandon, disenchanted, the boat in which, with great expectations, he had embarked himself in. He was one of those that allowed himself to be seduced by the supposedly revolutionary rhetoric of Chávez and accompanied him not only in his electoral cruise but also before, in his conspiratorial movements. It did not take him long in realize that he had been ripped off and transformed himself in critic and opposer, but from the left, where he has always been. Carlos, everyone knows it, is a man of action. A hard worker that never tires, dedicated, daring and willing to take risks, a tough one, if you want. What the Chavismo does not forgive him for is that Carlos is one of the living proofs that among the needy disenchantment is growing. He is one of the organizers of that disenchantment, acting in a stage that the Chavismo considers its own closed space, that of the poor barrios of the capital.

That is why there is bad blood with him. This small reporter wants to add himself to the campaign for the freedom of Carlos Melo.

I never cease to be amazed at the cynicism of some people in the Government. Yesterday Jorge Rodriguez, who in many statements in public has claimed to be “impartial” and an “arbiter” of the electoral process, yesterday said (Can’t find the link, but I saw it on TV and in one newspaper) that if the Electoral Hall of the Venezuelan Supreme Court ruled the “planas” to be valid, he would go to the Constitutional Hall and appeal the decision. Now, if he really believes he is the arbiter, he should be the arbiter on electoral matters and the Electoral Hall of the Venezuelan Supreme Court should be the arbiter on Electoral law and regulations. Moreover, why is he announcing it ahead of the decision by the Electoral Hall? Is it because he knows he would lose in the first and win in the second?

And today, the legal adviser of the CNE himself recused two members of the Electoral Hall. I have to ask, is this guy autonomous? Did the CNE Board vote on this?

Meanwhile, the People’s Ombudsman in Washingtonsays there are no political prisoners in Venezuela. He also stated categorically that the National Guard had not killed any of the 12 people that died because they did not use weapons other than those that shoot plastic bullets. I imagine he means that the National Guard did not use any weapons like this or like these:

at any time during the repression of the tragic week which began on Feb. 27th. and I must have drawn them, or composed them or something like that.

In fact, all of these pictures are parts of dozens of pictures if not hundrerds taken during those violent days. Moreover, I am told the second picture from the right shows soldiers with a SIG 552 assault weapon and an M-16 rifle, both weapo which are certainly not approved for use in controlling civilain protests.

I never cease to be amazed at the cynicism of some people in the Government. Yesterday Jorge Rodriguez, who in many statements in public has claimed to be “impartial” and an “arbiter” of the electoral process, yesterday said (Can’t find the link, but I saw it on TV and in one newspaper) that if the Electoral Hall of the Venezuelan Supreme Court ruled the “planas” to be valid, he would go to the Constitutional Hall and appeal the decision. Now, if he really believes he is the arbiter, he should be the arbiter on electoral matters and the Electoral Hall of the Venezuelan Supreme Court should be the arbiter on Electoral law and regulations. Moreover, why is he announcing it ahead of the decision by the Electoral Hall? Is it because he knows he would lose in the first and win in the second?

And today, the legal adviser of the CNE himself recused two members of the Electoral Hall. I have to ask, is this guy autonomous? Did the CNE Board vote on this?

Meanwhile, the People’s Ombudsman in Washingtonsays there are no political prisoners in Venezuela. He also stated categorically that the National Guard had not killed any of the 12 people that died because they did not use weapons other than those that shoot plastic bullets. I imagine he means that the National Guard did not use any weapons like this or like these:

at any time during the repression of the tragic week which began on Feb. 27th. and I must have drawn them, or composed them or something like that.

In fact, all of these pictures are parts of dozens of pictures if not hundrerds taken during those violent days. Moreover, I am told the second picture from the right shows soldiers with a SIG 552 assault weapon and an M-16 rifle, both weapo which are certainly not approved for use in controlling civilain protests.

Once in while, we all need a light moment. I know I had one, so let me share it with you, from today’s El Universal:

The truth for the world by Elides Rojas

“My comrade Ambassadors, you came here for only one thing: To listen to me. That is, you will have the immense pleasure of listening to the same litany of stupidities that I say all the time in the streets, but with the unbeatable advantage of having me in front of you, for as long as I want.

Thus, let’s be precise from the beginning, the roles we will play in the next hours: Number One: I have the right to speak. The truth is mine. Number Two: You, my dear and honorable comrades, you listen, swallow it and believe me. It’s easy. You will not need your brain for anything. Of course, all of this under a fundamental premise: If George “doble” Bush is an asshole because he believed that the military was with me, I presume that all of those that do not believe me are equally assholes, thus, you decided what you want to be.

Let’s see what we are dealing with. Everything that is happening in the country in the last few days does not exist, it never happened. You understand. The media has taken it upon itself to build a horrible reality that, because of the script which is part of the conspiracy, has impacted the world, and very specially, to those Governments that can be manipulated and are weak of understanding. The pronouncements by nations, high Government officials, and non-Government organizations are absolutely invalid. I have not seen one. I have read about them in the press or those I have seen on TV or on the radio. Nothing tangible. That, as you well know, is sufficient to place them under observation and subject to ratification.

The truth is that this irrational, coupster, saboteur and violent opposition, can’t see a bayonet because its throws itself on it. We have several videos of that, like those of April 11th. in which we can appreciate reality. Another problem that we confront is the addiction people have to tear gas canisters. They can’t live without the smoke. Every once in a while they go looking for it, En masse. About this, which has us very concerned, I have instructed the interplanetary General, yes the other one with three suns, so that he organizes it and has a sort of mega market. That way we can give away quotas of bayonets, sticks and tear gas in orderly fashion, with their respective lines, in Ave. Bolivar.

The stuff about the shots and the deaths is another conspirative lie. It’s just like the signatures and the recall referendum. I have the proofs here. Nobody saw anyone signing. The media invented the lines of people signing which in reality correspond to people visiting the Presidential Palace to kiss my hand. To touch me. That happens daily. They are intent on saying that they got the signatures to get me out of here, but in reality they are crazy for me to stay.

You, my honorable comrades and friends, whatever, go to your countries, like if you were clones of William Lara or Ismael Garcia and tell your Governments the truth, the only one.

And now more than ever, when you are surely convinced that what we have here is a conspiracy directed by “doble” Bush and his lackeys at the OAS, a thing that without any chance of being wrong, you unanimously share with me. No doubt about it.

Go then comrades. Repeat, he is a democrat, Incapable of violating human rights. Integral, serious. Always tells the truth. And daring like he is, he would give his life to go to the recall referendum to show how great he is.